USS Hamlin (CVE-15) was one of a large group of escort aircraft carriers built on Maritime Commission C-3 hulls and transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend Lease during World War II. The ship was launched by Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Francisco, California, on 5 March 1942, as AVG-15, aircraft escort vessel. She was sponsored by Mrs. William H. Shea. Her designation was changed to ACV-15, auxiliary aircraft carrier, 20 August 1942, and she was acquired and simultaneously transferred to the United Kingdom 21 December 1942. Hamlin's designation was changed to CVE-15, escort aircraft carrier, 15 July 1943.
Renamed HMS Stalker (D91), the escort carrier played a vital part in allied operations in the Atlantic. She participated in the Salerno landings in September 1943, providing effective on the spot air support for assault forces. Stalker also took part in the important landings in southern France in August 1944. From March to April 1945 she was attached to the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron. Returned to the United States 29 December 1945, she was struck from the Navy Register 20 March 1946 and sold to Waterman Steamship Corp. of Mobile, Alabama, 18 December 1946. Waterman in turn sold her to the Netherlands in August 1947 where she was converted to the merchant ship Riouw. Later renamed Lobito in 1968, she was scrapped in Taiwan in September 1975.
The ships had a complement of 646 men and accommodation of Royal Navy mess hall control food. The separate messes no longer had to prepare their own food, as everything was cooked in the galley and served cafeteria style in a central dining area. They were also equipped with a modern laundry and a barber shop. The traditional hammocks were replaced by three tier bunk beds, eighteen to a cabin which were hinged and could be tied up to provide extra space when not in use.[2]
The ships dimensions were; an overall length of 492.25 feet (150.04 m), a beam of 69.5 feet (21.2 m) and a height of 23.25 ft (7.09 m). They had a displacement of 11,420 long tons (11,603 t) at deep load.[3] Propulsion was provided by four diesel engines connected to one shaft giving 8,500 brake horsepower (6,300 kW), which could propel the ship at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph).[4]
Cocker, Maurice (2008). Aircraft-Carrying Ships of the Royal Navy. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press. ISBN978-0-7524-4633-2.
Poolman, Kenneth (1972). Escort Carrier 1941–1945. London: Ian Allan. ISBN0-7110-0273-8.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Stalker (D91).
January 01, 1970
stalker, other, ships, with, same, name, hamlin, stalker, hamlin, large, group, escort, aircraft, carriers, built, maritime, commission, hulls, transferred, royal, navy, under, lend, lease, during, world, ship, launched, western, pipe, steel, company, francisc. For other ships with the same name see USS Hamlin and HMS Stalker USS Hamlin CVE 15 was one of a large group of escort aircraft carriers built on Maritime Commission C 3 hulls and transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend Lease during World War II The ship was launched by Western Pipe and Steel Company San Francisco California on 5 March 1942 as AVG 15 aircraft escort vessel She was sponsored by Mrs William H Shea Her designation was changed to ACV 15 auxiliary aircraft carrier 20 August 1942 and she was acquired and simultaneously transferred to the United Kingdom 21 December 1942 Hamlin s designation was changed to CVE 15 escort aircraft carrier 15 July 1943 HMS Stalker January 1943History United States NameUSS Hamlin NamesakeHamlin Sound in South Carolina BuilderWestern Pipe and Steel Company Laid down6 October 1941 Launched5 March 1942 FateTransferred to Royal Navy 21 December 1942 United Kingdom NameHMS Stalker Commissioned21 December 1942 Decommissioned29 December 1945 Stricken20 March 1946 FateSold as a merchant ship scrapped 1975 General characteristics Class and typeAttacker class escort carrier Displacement14 400 tons Length491 ft 6 in 149 81 m Beam105 ft 32 m Draught26 ft 7 9 m PropulsionSteam turbines 1 shaft 8 500 shp 6 300 kW Speed18 knots 33 km h 21 mph Complement646 Armament2 4 50 5 38 or 5 51 guns 8 40 mm AA 20 20 mm guns AA Aircraft carried20 Service record Operations Salerno landings 1943 Operation Dragoon 1944 Operation Tiderace 1945 Renamed HMS Stalker D91 the escort carrier played a vital part in allied operations in the Atlantic She participated in the Salerno landings in September 1943 providing effective on the spot air support for assault forces Stalker also took part in the important landings in southern France in August 1944 From March to April 1945 she was attached to the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron Returned to the United States 29 December 1945 she was struck from the Navy Register 20 March 1946 and sold to Waterman Steamship Corp of Mobile Alabama 18 December 1946 Waterman in turn sold her to the Netherlands in August 1947 where she was converted to the merchant ship Riouw Later renamed Lobito in 1968 she was scrapped in Taiwan in September 1975 Contents 1 Design and description 2 References 3 Bibliography 4 External linksDesign and description editThere were eight Attacker class escort carriers in service with the Royal Navy during the Second World War They were built between 1941 and 1942 by Ingalls Shipbuilding and Western Pipe amp Steel shipyards in the United States both building four ships each 1 The ships had a complement of 646 men and accommodation of Royal Navy mess hall control food The separate messes no longer had to prepare their own food as everything was cooked in the galley and served cafeteria style in a central dining area They were also equipped with a modern laundry and a barber shop The traditional hammocks were replaced by three tier bunk beds eighteen to a cabin which were hinged and could be tied up to provide extra space when not in use 2 The ships dimensions were an overall length of 492 25 feet 150 04 m a beam of 69 5 feet 21 2 m and a height of 23 25 ft 7 09 m They had a displacement of 11 420 long tons 11 603 t at deep load 3 Propulsion was provided by four diesel engines connected to one shaft giving 8 500 brake horsepower 6 300 kW which could propel the ship at 17 knots 31 km h 20 mph 4 Aircraft facilities were a small combined bridge flight control on the starboard side and above the 450 by 120 foot 137 by 37 m flight deck 5 two aircraft lifts 42 by 34 feet 13 by 10 m and nine arrestor wires Aircraft could be housed in the 260 by 62 foot 79 by 19 m hangar below the flight deck 3 Armament comprised two 4 50 5 38 or 5 51 in single mounts eight 40 mm anti aircraft gun in twin mounts and twenty one 20 mm guns anti aircraft cannons in single or twin mounts 3 They had the capacity for up to eighteen aircraft which could be a mixture of Grumman Martlet Hawker Sea Hurricane Seafire Vought F4U Corsair fighter aircraft and Fairey Swordfish or Grumman Avenger anti submarine aircraft 3 References edit Cocker 2008 p 79 Poolman 1972 pp 74 75 a b c d Cocker 2008 p 80 Cocker 2008 pp 80 81 Poolman 1972 p 57 Bibliography editCocker Maurice 2008 Aircraft Carrying Ships of the Royal Navy Stroud Gloucestershire The History Press ISBN 978 0 7524 4633 2 Poolman Kenneth 1972 Escort Carrier 1941 1945 London Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 0273 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Stalker D91 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Stalker D91 amp oldid 1209943787, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
